Claddagh Records is a record label which was founded in 1959 by Garech Browne and Ivor Browne. It specialises in Irish traditional music and spoken word. Gareth had been taking lessons at the time from the master piper Leo Rowsome whose artistry was very well known. Leo, who had made many recordings in the 1920s and 1930s with H.M.V. and Decca was to be the first artist to record on the Claddagh label. The only misgiving was whether one man could carry an entire instrumental LP on his own. Leo, on the first ever Claddagh album "Rí na bPíobairí" (King of the Pipers) produced virtuoso uilleann piping. The second was the Chieftains first recording. The most famous artists in their roster are The Chieftains.